Choquequiraw 8 days
Choquequiraw 8D is a trek of 100 km long, designed for people with physical training and experience for long distance walks with different altitudes and different grounds; with fitness and strenght. 8D Choquequiraw invites you to discover the last refuge of the Incas, "La Cuna de Oro" (the gold cradle): the ruins of Choquequiraw and finish this trek with a visit to one of the wonders of the modern world: Machu Picchu. Both archaeological sites, significantly, bear a strong resemblance to each other, therefore, Choquequiraw is known as the "sacred sister" of Machu Picchu, due to the architectural and structural similarity between the two.
This hike has a running average of 7-8 hours per day. It demands a good physical condition, because the walking regimen is high: daily long distances are traveled, passing through different climates (there is constant change) and the ground is very rough by the presence of canyons. Our trek is orientated to people who have as the main purpose of their travel trekking, due to the days you need to trek it. Also Choquequiraw 8D is made for couples, groups of friends or people who want a more personal journey; enjoy a great diversity of climate, landscapes and variety of ground, flora and fauna, and meet one of the Wonders of the World "Machu Picchu" and the last corner of Inca presence, "Choquequiraw".
Availability
Choquequiraw 8 days does not have the same regulations as the Inca trail in regards to the number of people and permits allowed. However, included on your trek are the permits to Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu mountain, which limit permits per day, maximum of 400 people divided in two shifts. In order to ensure the tickets to Huaynapicchu, it’s recommended to book with at least 3 or 4 months in anticipation, especially for the high season (from May to September). Choquequiraw 8 days can be booked from April to November only, as the rest of the year it is closed due to the rainy season and maintenance work in the area.
GROUP SIZE
Our shared groups are small, from 4-8 people maximum. For private groups, the number of people will be determined by the client.
HOW TO BOOK?
To reserve an Inca Trail permit, we need the following information for EACH PARTICIPANT:
Personal Information:
- First, Middle and Last names (exactly as they appear in your passport)
- Gender
- Passport number and expiry date
- Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
- Nationality
- If you are a university student with a valid Student ID card, please send us a scan or photo at the time you make your reservation.
- The deposit: to confirm your space (permit) on the Choquequiraw Trek , we need a deposit of 50% advance.
HOW TO MAKE THE DEPOSIT:
PAYPAL (We recommend this option, because it is easier, faster and safer)
PayPal payments can be made on our website by clicking the button “Pay on line”. You can also pay directly to leocusi@waykitrek.net. Both of these options require a 6% commission for PayPal and the bank. but in this first payment you don’t need to pay this tax (will be assumed by Wayki Trek) just pay 50% advance(prepaid). Once you have made your PayPal payment, please email us a copy of the transaction in order to proceed with your booking.
How to pay in full your trek via paypal:
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Click Send Money.
- Enter the recipient’s email address “leocusi@waykitrek.net”and the amount you want to pay
- Make your selection accordingly, then choose the reason for the payment.
- Click Continue.
Take advantage of the first payment, and make the total payment of your tour without any charge, as this first fee will be assumed by Wayki Trek.
WESTERN UNION the payment will be effective once we receive the money and this will depend on the days you indicate in Western Union)
If you decide to use Western Union, you will need to give the following information:
RECEIVER:
- Name: LEONIDAS
- Paternal Last Name: CUSI
- Maternal Last Name: LOAIZA
- Address: Calle Quera 239, Cusco – Perú
Please do not forget to email us the tracking code (MTCN) so that we can pick up the money and proceed with your reservation. Also, keep in mind that Western Union has its own transfer fees. The final amount that needs to arrive in Cusco is a minimum of 50% advance; you can also pay the entire amount up front.
PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
- To guarantee your spot on the Inca Trail, you must send us your deposit. Otherwise, we CANNOT guarantee your reservation.
- The deposit 50% advance or total cost of the trip does NOT include any transfer fees charged by intermediary businesses (PayPal, Banks, Western Union).
- Once you have made your payment, please email us your proof of transaction or MTCN tracking number to confirm your reservation. Without these, we cannot guarantee your reservation.
- Your deposit cannot be refunded. Once we have this and with your personal information, we immediately purchase your Inca Trail permits, and these are nonrefundable.
- The payment of any outstanding balance can be made at our office once you arrive in Cusco, after your briefing. Please keep in mind that we only accept cash. You may pay the entire price of your trip up front via PayPal or Western Union to avoid having to take out cash in Cusco.
Itinerary
We’ll have an informative talk about the hike and the opportunity to get to know the other travelers who will be sharing the trail with you.
| *Your briefing is usually programmed one day before your program and usually in the morning. However, If your program starts on a Monday, your briefing will be programmed for the Saturday prior to your program and during the morning only. Therefore, please consider this when booking your flights to Cusco. |
We will pick you up from the hotel at 5:00 am to start our trip to the town of Cachora (2, 800 m.a.s.l.) On route, we will go through different typical towns and also the anta’s pampa (3, 391 m.a.s.l.) this area is known for its agricultural and livestock production, as well as its wide pampas, prairies, fertile valleys and long rivers. All this makes the area an extraordinary landscape. Upon arrival to Cachora, we will meet with our trekking team, muleteers, mules/horses and our staff that will carry all the camping equipment and your personal duffel bags (up to 8 Kg.) After a brief rest and a light breakfast, we will start our trek. The first hours of the trek will be on mostly flat terrain until we reach the lookout point and pass of Capuliyoc (2, 800 m.a.s.l.) Here, we will see the mountain chain of the area, the Apurimac Canyon and the Apurimac River. We also will be able to spot at the distance Choquequiraw. After lunch, we will continue with the trek, descending to our campsite Chiquishca (1,930 m.a.s.l.), where wil will have lunch, dinner and camp.
- Distance: 19 Km.
- Walking Hours: 8-9 hours
- Low Altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3391 m. / 11125 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 Ft.
After breakfast we will continue with our trek towards Rosalinas beach (1,550 m.a.s.l.). Then we will descend through the Apurimac Canyon and Apurimac River. Here, we can dip in the water to freshen up. Afterwards, we will cross over to the other side of the river using the hanging bridge. Right after that, the hardest part of the route will start. We will ascend using a winding trail which will take us away from the Canyon in direction to Santa Rosa area (2,290 m.a.s.l.) approx. Later, we will continue ascending towards Marampata (2,850 m.a.s.l.) During our trek we will observer the vast vegetation of the area in which the orchids and violets take the first and most important place. There is also a chance to see dear, anteaters on the distance and a different variety of birds. Once we reach Marapampa, we will have lunch. Then we will begin our trek to the Inca’s last refuge place: Choquequiraw or “Gold Crib” (3,033 m.a.s.l.) this route will be 1 ½ of walk approx.
Choquequiraw was designed with 9 areas. These areas were built as small towns surrounding a square to which all the streets from each town will end up. The following areas have been identified: The upper areas (Hanan), the storage areas (Qolqa), main square (Huaqaypata), the lower square (hurin), the andenes system where crops used to grow (Shaqra Anden), the ceremonial platform (Ushno) and the priest houses on the lower part of the hill. Because of all this findings it is presumable that Choquequiraw was a great political and economic center that was used as a hub for commerce and culture exchange between the coast, mountain and the jungle. We need to emphasize that Choquequiraw is also known as “Machu Picchu Sacred Sister” due to the similarities in architectural design and structure they have.
By the afternoon, after this exciting visit and exploration of Choquequiraw, we can see the flight of the condors, the Andean bird par excellence, and finally spend the night around this enigmatic place.
- Distance: 12.5 Km.
- Walking Hours: 7-8 hours
- Low Altitude: 1550 m. / 5085 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3033 m. / 11125 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3033 m. / 11125 Ft.
After breakfast, we will have plenty of time to enjoy the majestic archaeological site before continuing our trek uphill. Along the way, our guide will show us the wonders of this archaeological site. After this tour, we will continue our way to Paso Choquequiraw (3,500 m), surrounded by native trees, flowers and orchids. Once on top, we see the different mountains and the deep canyon Rio Blanco. We descend, towards the archaeological ruins of Pinchayunuyoc (2,850 m), which has recently been restored and is surrounded by a cloud forest. Then, we will continue our way to Rio Blanco (1,000 m). Once we arrive, we will settle, have lunch, take a rest and continue the walk. We will walk through an interesting vegetation known as Dry Forest. The vegetation of this area consists mainly of trees that come to mediate between 4-10 meters high, with little foliage and their abundant component elements are separated. After passing through this forest, we arrive at Victoria River. There, we will refresh ourselves in the cold and crystalline waters of the river. Later, we will cross the river and start the long, steep and demanding climb to our camp in Maizal (3,000 m). Once we arrive to Maizal, we will have lunch and a rest. Maizal provides the most beautiful campsite from the entire walk. From here, we will be able to see three valleys and a right of snowy mountains all the way.
- Distance: 15 Km.
- Walking Hours: 7-8 hours
- Low Altitude: 1000 m. / 3280 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3500 m. / 11125 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3000 m. / 9842Ft
We will leave our campsite at Maizal (3,000 m.a.s.l.) and walk to San Juan Pass (4,200 m.a.s.l.). Here we will have a long climb and a cold weather, but this area is one of the most beautiful of the trek. Initially we will walk through a cloud forest and then enter to the highlands of the Andes. We will rest in one of the mines of Victoria and learn about several minerals and metals of the area. While we are ascending, we will walk on well preserved Inca’s path. We will have lunch at the highest point in the San Juan pass. From here, you can see a large chain of mountains called the Mountain range of Vilcabamba. After lunch, we will continue our way to our camp at Yanama (3,500 m.a.s.l.). A small village at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains.
- Distance: 11 Km.
- Walking Hours: 7-8 hours
- Low Altitude: 3000 m. / 9842 Ft.
- High Altitude: 4200 m. / 13779 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3500 m. / 11482 Ft
After breakfast, we will start walking towards the highest point of the whole trip: Yanama’s Pass (4,680 m.a.s.l.). Along the way, we will have a good view of the snow-capped mountain Sacsarayoc (5,994 m). We observe impressive landscapes, birds and native vegetation from this altitude; after that we will have lunch. Upon reaching the Yanama Pass, we will observe the snowy Salkantay (6,400 m.a.s.l.) and Pintuyo (5,460 m.a.s.l.); also we have the opportunity to see the flight of the condors. We can walk through the snow along this road and before, down to the Valley of Totora (3,250 m.a.s.l.), our camp. Once we arrrive at Totora, we take a deserved break, have dinner and spend the night.
- Distance: 15 Km.
- Walking Hours: 8-9 hours
- Low Altitude: 3250 m. / 10662 Ft.
- High Altitude: 4680 m. / 15354 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 3250 m. / 10662 Ft
This day, after breakfast, we will descend through a wide variety of vegetation and warmer climate, towards the village of Winaypocco (2,650 m.a.s.l.). Along the way, the temperature will increase with the passage of the hours. This valley is inhabited by bromeliads, orchids, fruit trees, waterfalls, insects, birds, many butterflies and other species. We will harness the hot weather and the presence of beautiful waterfalls for a refreshing natural bath.
In Winaypocco, we will have lunch, dinner and overnight. There, we find that the people of the area are specialists in harvesting granadillas. We may also observe other crops such as coffee or avocado.
- Distance: 10 Km.
- Walking Hours: 5-4 hours
- Low Altitude: 2650 m. / 8694 Ft.
- High Altitude: 3250 m. / 10662 Ft.
- Campsite Altitude: 2650 m. / 8694 Ft
After a good breakfast, we restart the walk. We will continue descending heading towards the village of La Playa (2,010 m.a.s.l.) and subsequently to Lucmabamba Valley (1,850 m.a.s.l.); along the way we will pass by plantations of bananas, passion fruit, cocoa and coffee. Then, we will leave the valley to go climbing in the direction toward the original Inca Trail. During the tour, we ascend gradually towards the top of the mountain, where is the archaeological center of Llactapata (2,740 m.a.s.l.). From there, we will appreciate: the citadel of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, part of the traditional Inca Trail, and the Urubamba River; winding along the valley. After a break, we will descend through a zigzag path through the bushes, narrow and slippery into the valley (Hydroelectric). From there, we take the train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m.a.s.l.) and spend the night in a hotel. Optionally, at night we will have the opportunity to go to the hot springs.
- Distance: 19 Km.
- Walking Hours: 9-10 hours
- Low Altitude: 1850 m. / 6069 Ft.
- High Altitude: 2740 m. / 8989 Ft.
After a warm breakfast, we will wake up early to take the bus to Machu Picchu (2,430 m.a.s.l.) where we will be among the first visitors of the day to enjoy the magic and mystery of one of the wonders of the world. We will have a tour of the citadel for 2-3 hours approx. We will enjoy the splendor of Machupicchu and the surrounding landscapes, the exotic tranquility of the lost city of the Incas. By the afternoon, we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes. Once in town, you will have free time to grab lunch and later on the day we will take the train to return to Ollantaytambo.
Upon arrival to Cusco, our transfer will be waiting in our private van to take you back to your hotel. End of services.
What’s included
1. A Briefing, one day before the trek. Once there, you will receive all pertinent information for your trek and our staff will answer all your doubts.
2. –Entrance permits to the Choquequiraw Trek and Machupicchu. Once we have received confirmation of your reservation and your deposit, we’ll immediately apply for your permit at the Ministry of Culture (the institution which regulates Machupicchu) to ensure that there is enough space for you and the necessary porters. We can also reserve tickets for either Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu at the same time (note that these are optional and have an additional cost. See “Not Included” below).
3. Field Staff:
- Professional Guides: specialized in trekking and selected from accredited universities. Our guides are fluent in English and have five to twelve years of experience in different hikes of the region. They are skilled at managing groups under pressure and are experts at first aid and rescue techniques. The majority of them come from different Andean communities and bring with them their cultural heritage. Along with the rest of the field team, our guides will make your journey a unique experience.
- Chefs: Trained in local gastronomy schools, they are experts in modern Andean cooking, traditional Peruvian meals, international food styles and vegetarian cooking. They have deep knowledge of the nutritional properties of their meals and are experts at cooking as quickly as possible. And all of this, of course, with a strong emphasis on hygiene and food safety during preparation.
- Porters: Responsible for carrying all the group gear and your 8kg (17.6lb) of personal items. They come from various rural communities from the Cusco region, where they still maintain their local customs and traditions. We provide them with accident insurance during the trek and with suitable clothing that allows them to work in comfort. Our porters are also hosts responsible for making your journey an unforgettable experience.
4. Camping Equipment and hotel of 3 stars the last night:
- Tents: These are 4-season, high mountain tents from the brands North Face, Eureka, and Mountain Hardwear. They can withstand harsh winter weather, including heavy rain and snow.
- Sleeping Mats: Our inflatable Thermarest mattresses guarantee a warm, comfortable night’s sleep on the trail.
- Sleeping bag: We use down sleeping bags rated to -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) to ensure a warm night’s sleep.
- Dining Tent: Our spacious dining tent, complete with chairs and a table, gives us all the room we need to enjoy our meals no matter the weather outside.
- Cooking Tent: Comes with all the equipment necessary for our chef to prepare your meals (gas stove and all food prep utensils).
- Bathroom Tents: These tents have toilets with water pumps, and we’ll set them up at all our lunch spots and campsites.
4. Meals: 7 breakfasts, 7 morning snacks, 8 lunches, 7 afternoon snacks, 7 dinners.
We’ll have variety of food throughout the hike, all of which will be loaded with the protein, vitamins and carbohydrates to give you the energy that you’ll need on the hike.
- Breakfasts: Fruit salad, yogurt, oatmeal, chocolate, milk, coffee, tea, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bread and butter.
- Morning Snacks: Fresh and dried fruit, crackers, and sweets (chocolate, other candy)
- Lunches: Buffet-style, with soup, 2-4 different main dishes, desserts and hot drinks. The mains will include Peruvian classics, such as lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with rice and French fries) and aji de gallina (mildly spicy, creamy chicken pure), among other options. We can also make vegetarian options.
- Afternoon snacks: Popcorn, crackers, coffee, chocolate, milk, and a variety of teas.
- Dinners: Soups, chicken, pasta.
- Water: We’ll provide you with boiled water every day of the hike, from lunch onwards.
5. Transportation:
- From Cusco to the trailhead at Cachora in a Mercedes Benz minibus.
- Train from Hidrolectric to Aguas Calientes town.
- Bus from from Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes.
- Return train ticket (Expedition class) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo after your visit to Machu Picchu.
- Bus from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.
6. Biodegradable products: Personal hygiene products for our staff and clients, and soap for cleaning cooking and camping equipment.
7. Emergency Equipment:
- Satellite Telephones: Each one of our groups carries a satellite telephone at all times to communicate with our office in case of emergency or for clients to use in case they have a personal emergency in whatever part of the world.
- Radios: These have a 10km range and 8 frequencies for our guides, chefs and porters to communicate amongst themselves. Additionally, the radios can be used to communicate with the Machu Picchu and Inca Trail park guards in case of emergency.
- First Aid Kit: We carry a full complement of over-the-counter medication, including alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tincture of iodine, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, adhesive medical tape, surgical gloves, analgesics for muscle and stomach pain, antipyretics, anti-allergy medication, anti-inflammatories, oral rehydration salts, laxatives, burn cream, splints, blood pressure measuring devices, and thermometers. If you take prescription medication, you may carry your own drugs.
- Medical assistance by satellite calling: Our guides are very well trainned in first aids but Keep in mind that only a medical professional can write up a medical prescription. Our guides are not allowed to prescribe a treatment for our clients. Is For this reason, we implemented a Doctor’s assistance on the way by sateilite phone calling in case any medical Emergency.
NOT INCLUDED
- Wayna Picchu Ticket
- Last dinner in Cusco.
- Hiking poles
- Tips – These are VOLUNTARY. Each traveler may decide for him or herself whether to give one.
- Travel Insurance: This is not a requirement, but we always recommend that our clients purchase it in case there are problems with their flights or unexpected health problems come up. Be aware if your travel insurance policy has altitude restrictions: some policies are void above 4,000m (13,123ft), and the Salkantay trek goes as high as 4,600m. Other hikes in the Cusco region may go as high as 5,000m.
*A horse to carry 8kg (17.6lb) of your personal gear is included. In case you need to bring additional weight, you must ask for an extra horse at the same time as you make your reservation.
* The horse service will only be available the 6 days of the trek, as those are the most challenging ones, starting on the 7th day there are vehicles for the transportation of luggage.
Price
PRIVATE SERVICE (Group participants Min 1 person; Max upon request)
| 1 person | U$$ 4,429.00* |
| 2 people | U$$ 2,624.00* |
| 3 people | U$$ 2,003.00* |
| 4 people | U$$ 1,727.00* |
| 5 people | U$$ 1,534.00* |
| 6 people | U$$ 1,381.00* |
| 7 people | U$$ 1,289.00* |
| 8 people | U$$ 1,191.00* |
| 9 people | U$$ 885.00* |
* Price per person, applicable to departures from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
Discounts:
1. Children between 8-17 years old pay the student price, but they must show a copy of their passport. Children will receive the underage student price if they, at the time of their trip, are at most 17 years old and have had their birthday recently.
2. University students receive a U$$ 25.00 discount.
3. University students must have a student card with the following information to receive the discount:
- Name of the university
- The student’s full name, identical to the one in their passport.
- A photo of the student.
- Student number or code.
- Expiry date (must be valid for the entire duration of the trip).
The student card must show all of the information mentioned above. If it does not, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture will not accept the card and will not issue a discount for the Inca Trail permit (it is this discount from the Ministry of Culture that we pass on to students).
Once you have reserved as a student, you must bring your original student card (not a copy) to enter the Inca Trail. If you forget your card, you will not be able to do the hike and you will lose your permit.
Additional Services:
- Extra horse to carry 8 kilos: USD 120.00 It is necessary to confirm on the time of booking
- Extra horse to carry 15 kilos: USD 240.00 It is necessary to confirm on the time of booking
- Saddle-horse: USD 240.00 It is necessary to confirm on the time of booking
- Sleeping bag: USD 60.00
- Hiking Poles: USD 50.00
- Personal Tent: USD 100.00
- Toilet Tent /Portable Toilet: USD 90.00
- Extra night in Aguas Calientes: Ask for the price
- Train Up-grade or change ticket departure: Ask for the price.
CANCELLING POLICY COVID-19
Special terms and conditions: In the event that the COVID 19 pandemic situation continues throughout the world, Wayki Trek will give you the option to reschedule your trip or have a credit note for the future or return in coordination with the regulatory institutions of tourist attractions.
CANCELLING YOUR RESERVATION:
Wayki Trek has the following policies concerning cancellation of reservations:
1. Due to the strict regulations established by Machu Picchu Park, once you have made your booking the space and permit that has been purchased cannot be cancelled. It is also impossible to transfer the permit to someone else under a different name. The date of your permit can not be modified either. Therefore, if you are not able to arrive on the scheduled date, no refunds can be made for your Inca Trail permit.
Permits are not refundable and WAYKI TREK will purchase the permits as soon as confirmation of your booking has been sent.
Therefore:
- If you cancel 30 or more days in advance, you will lose your first deposit but will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you.
- If you cancel between 29 and 11 days before your trip, you must pay 50% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, and whatever other service we have purchased for you.
- If you cancel between 10 and 4 days before your trip, you must pay 80% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, train ticket* and bus ticket.
- If you cancel between 1 and 3 days before your trip, this is regarded as a “no show” and you must pay 100% of the total cost. You will have the right to whatever entrance tickets we have purchased for you, a guided tour of Machu Picchu on the day that it was scheduled in your original itinerary, train ticket* and bus ticket.
2. If you decide to stop for personal reasons once the hike has started, you will automatically lose all the included services. Any costs incurred during your return, such as food, transportation, or lodging, will be your responsibility. However, you can rejoin the group at Machu Picchu for the visit, where you may use your entrance ticket, participate in the guided tour, take the return bus to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Ollantaytambo.
3. If you plan to renew your passport after making your reservation, especially the number, be sure to send a photo of the old passport and the new one to make the change at the Machu Picchu Park office. Ideally, bring your old passport with you as well.
4. If you change your last name from the one which is on your passport (for marriage or any other reason), you will not be able to update this on your trail permit or Machu Picchu entrance ticket. However, your reserved space on the trail will stay available, and you can buy the trail permit again (at an extra cost) for this space using your new last name. To avoid repurchasing your ticket, you can use your passport with your old name that your original reservation was made under, but this passport must be valid for the entire duration of your visit.
5. Events out of our control which make any part of the trip impossible, such as strikes, protests, flight cancellations, weather conditions, or the overselling of hotels or flights. In any of these cases, we will suggest alternative arrangements (if any are available) to make the trip possible. Any costs associated with these alternative arrangements will be the responsibility of the traveler.
Why choose us
We keep our group sizes small at Wayki Trek, allowing us to give you highly personalized service.
This lets you enjoy your hike more and better get to know all the other participants, making your experience unique and unforgettable. We also practice a high level of environmental and social responsability on each one of our expeditions.
3. Small groups
4. Safety
7. Our porters
9. International Certification – Hight Quality
Travel Info
In the event that you decide to Withdraw The trekking once has started , you will be responsible for all additional charges such as: fooed and transportation that might occur due to the modification of your itinerary. However you can join the group again in Aguas calientes to spend the night and visit Machu Piccchu.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you have reserved the service with your old Passport and then you have renewed it and obtained another. You have most likely changed the number of it. Please let us know so we can update this information. This modification has to be made prior your trip to Peru (at least 10 days before your trip). As soon as you have your new passport, please inform Wayki Trek of this change. Otherwise, this update or modification will have an additional fee of USD 12 and it will create a big inconvenience to update it at the last minute.
IMPORTANT: If you bring your new passport and failed to inform us and this information was not updated, you won’t be allowed to enter Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and the use of train services.
Those passengers who booked their trip using the discounted price for ISIC Student Holders must bring their original and valid CIIU card (not a copy, not expired). This document must be shown at the control points throughout of the route. Unfortunately, if you do not bring your card. You won’t be able to enter Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu or use the train services as the ticket won’t be valid without your card.
For all our treks such as Inca Trail or Alternative Treks we provide an emergency kit that can be used in case of any incidence on the trek and with the consent of the affected customers
You can find the following in our first aid kid: oxygenated water, tincture of iodine, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze; large, medium and small bands, medical tape, surgical gloves, bronchodilators (inhalers or tablets), muscle pain medications (cream), stomach pain relievers, antipyretics, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodics, rehydration salts, laxatives, ophthalmic liquids, creams or liquids for relief from prolonged sun exposure, creams or liquids to burn relief, limb immobilizers, blood pressure and thermometer
IMPORTANT: it is good to inform our passengers which contain our first aid kit, but please consider only a doctor can diagnose and approve its use. Consider that the guide and our camp ́s staff does not have a power to diagnose a medical prescription to passengers. For this reason, every drug used on the trek will be under the responsibility and user authorization of passengers.
Medical Considerations
If you have medical restrictions for some or all the activities detailed in your booking. Please contact your doctor and inquire about the risks of doing said activities.
For those trekkers that come to Cusco directly from places at sea level; we recommend to arrive 2-3 days before your trek. Two of the most common health issues among tourists in Cusco are: The Altitude Sickness (Soroche) and stomach pain provoked by slow digestion.
Altitude Sickness; some of the symptoms are: headache and nausea. There are some over the counter medication (pills) that help to minimize the symptoms of this problem, such as Glucosa Coramina, Aspirina, Diamox, Soroichi Pill, Acetazolamida, among others. If the symptoms persist, the use of oxygen is the next step. Under this circumstances, we have the equipment and staff ready to assist our trekkers.
Stomach Pain; It is recommended to drink between 3-4 liters of water per day. Your body will need this to stay hydrated. It is specially recommended hot drinks like, coca leaves tea. Also, soups, vegetables and carbohydrates (not fried or heavy). Candy, chocolates, cookies and fruits are also a good option. In general, all food that is easy to digest. Do not have drink alcohol or smoke.
Try to sleep at least 8 hours and do not exercise too much. Keep your body in good temperature wearing warm clothes to protect yourself from the cold weather. During the adjusting to the altitude there is a general rule to follow: eat what is necessary and drink plenty of liquids.
It is very important that our passengers informs us before their trip, of any medical restriction or food
restriction, allergies, special diets, current medication, health issues or anything that we need to consider to make your trip enjoyable and without concerns.
There is no restrictions given by the ministry of culture in regards minors doing treks. In fact, most of the times that we have had the participation of a minor in our treks, they have adjusted better compared to adults. However, you must consider that any type of treks demand a lot of physical strength and endurance. Therefore, parents taking their children along should be aware of how extenuating this activity can be for adults and young participants as well.
In order to give peace of mind to those parents, we suggest to hire the services of an extra mule/horse for the minor’s personal items and himself if necessary.
It is equally important to keep hydrated during the trekking. Our staff on the trail will supply of this important element. It is also helpful to advise our staff about the minor needs so the tour guide can program the rest stops along the trail for a bit longer. All these are recommendations that WAYKI TREK gives in order to make a smooth experience on the trial, however they are not mandatory.
The use of both items is extremely necessary, remember that Peru is close to the equatorial line; therefore the sun rays are stronger due to the altitude. Many of our passengers have never experience the sun like that and the risk for sunburns is serious. Take along a hat, sun block for face and lips, sun glasses of good quality to protect your eyes.
There is no restrictions in regards to the physical fitness. However it is recommended that you are in good shape for any trek. Also, we suggest you to visit the foot doctor, as your feet should be in the best conditions possible before the trek. If you are a regular blood donor, please make sure you do your last blood donation 8 to 10 weeks before your trip.
Choquequirao has very different climate depending on the season. Heavy rain from October through March and dry season from May to September, the sky is clear and sunny. The temperature range between 10° and 21° Celsius. The coldest months are from May to July with almost no rain. The Terrain is quite irregular. Which creates different microclimates along the way.
WAYKI TREK offers the service of portable toilets during their trek. However, on the way there are also public toilets in some camps and lunch spots. By using these toilets is paid U $$ 0.50 cents.
Also, if you want to have this service exclusively for you, you may hire an extra bathroom tent; the cost of it is $ 45.00 USD for the whole trek and can be used by you and your friends.
If, in your trek, you have an extra horse to carry your belongings (8kg or 15kg), you will be given a duffel bag so our staff can carry it, in based the kilos requested. Also, please note that the duffel bag will be given during the BRIEFING and the return of it will be coordinate with your guide
The final payment of your due balance will be done in Wayki Trek offices in Cusco, during your Briefing. Please remember that we accept CASH only (USD or Peruvian Currency). Also, please make sure that if you bring bills, they are in good condition. We don’t accept torn bills.
If you don’t like the idea of travelling with cash, Wayki Trek advises to send yourself the amount of money you will need during your trip through Western Union with destination: Cusco City. Upon arrival to Cusco, you will be able to pick it up from any Wester Union office in Cusco. Please note that the fees to wire money are a big higher when done at the last minute. Therefore, we suggest you do it in advance.
Tips are a way to show gratitude for a service provided. It does not have a set amount. However it is NOT mandatory for any passenger to give them. Every Staff from WAYKI TREK has a salary whether they are: DRIVERS, TRANSFERS, TOUR GUIDES, MULETEER’S LEADER, MULETEER, CHEF, ASSISTANT COOK and WAITER. There is not minimum amount for the tip and it only depends on how much the passenger would like to give. If on the contrary, the passenger does not feel like giving a tip. He is entitled to it.
Please be aware that our Staff ARE NOT AUTHORIZED to request any tips or suggest a specific amount. WARNING: IF ANY STAFF MENTIONED ABOVE IS FOUND TO BE REQUESTING TIPS TO OUR PASSENGERS WILL
BE DISMISSED FROM THE COMPANY, AS IT IS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS OFFENSE.
Strikes and National Labor Stoppages are caused by the mass refusal of the population of a determined area or region. In observance to this, WAYKI TREK first priority is the safety of its passengers; for this reason, if faced with a strike or national work stoppage, some of the services that we provided may be altered in schedules, itineraries or in extreme and rare cases can cause the cancellation of services and rescheduling of the same. WAYKI TREK requests its passengers to be fully aware of these measures as they are implemented to ensure the safety of our passengers and staff.
Each and every process that we follow in order to provide a good service, guarantees the protection of our environment. We use detergents that will not harm the grounds on the trails. We provide water throughout the trek, in order to minimize the use of plastic bottles that can contaminate the area. We also provide at our passengers request biodegradable toilets, so we can dispose of the residues on specific areas determined by the government. We are also implementing the use of LED flashlights that will replace the use of batteries that many times are discarded along the trail. Finally, as a company, we believe in the importance of educating and creating awareness among all our passengers in regards the protection of the trekking areas and that their collaboration is crucial for our job.
For the trek, it is recommended to bring a bottle of water (1 liter). From the first lunch, Wayki TREK will be supplying the clients from boiled water.
Although you can buy bottled water en route, we encouraged you to bring your personal bottle during the trip. In this case, you could use bpa free bottles of flexible plastic like the Platypus brand. Such bottles allow easily bring content and when it’s empty, the bottle does not take up much room in the backpack (it is reusable and flexible). For that reason, by an environmental issue and preservation of the protected area, we asked our participants to support this initiative Wayki TREK.
If on the contrary, you wish to purchase bottled water during your trek, we ask you to please be responsible when discarding the empty bottles and do so at the specific areas within the campsites. Do not leave them along the trail. You can also keep all your bottles till the end of the trek until we get to Aguas Calientes town. You will be able to dispose of those items in the designated areas. By following this practices we avoid any negative environmental impact to the reserved area.
Another option is to take water purifier pills. However, from our experience before. We have seen some of our passengers suffering from stomach pain and discomfort after doing this. That is why we suggest you to
allow us to supply boiled water in your own plastic bottle.
During your walk, you can find outlets. This will much more facilities in it.
In Choquequiraw 8 days, we find the following points of sale: Cachora, Chikiska, Marampata, Yanama, Totora, Lucmabamba,y Aguas Calientes. On those places you can find some beverages and snacks.
FAQs
According to the Inka Trail regulatory institution, in order to purchase your entrance ticket, you must provide the following personal information: First and Last Name, Passport Nº, Gender Identity, Date of Birth or Age, as well as Nationality. You must then pay an already agreed-upon amount of money to your tour operator for the purchase of your entrance ticket.
Once the entrance ticket has been purchased, you will not be able to make any changes to your First and Last Name, as well as your Start Date, under any circumstances. The government only allows changes to Passport Numbers. Please consult with your tour operator if you have any questions or concerns.
The government will only allow us to update passport numbers if we have a copy of both the previous and current passport. If you no longer have your previous passport, any government form of identification will be accepted, provided that the First and Last Name are the same.
Most people travel to Cusco by air. Please note that the Cusco airport operates national flights only. Therefore, if you come directly from abroad to Lima, you are going to need to pick up your bags at the airport and re-check them for your flight to Cusco. There are four airlines that fly back and forth between Lima and Cusco: LATAM Airlines, AVIANCA Airlines, Star Peru, and Peruvian Airlines. All of these airlines offer similar schedules and flight services, but we generally recommend LATAM Airlines. You also have the option of travelling to Cusco by land. Please keep in mind that it takes approximately 24 hours to get from Lima to Cusco. If you have any questions or want more information on the matter, please consult with WAYKI’s sales representatives.
While you can stay at any hotel in Cusco, it is becoming increasingly difficult to travel in the city by car. In WAYKI TREK, we commit ourselves to picking you up from your place of lodging, be it in the city center or in the surrounding areas, specially now that it has become increasingly popular to stay in apartments or in rooms within houses. In the event that our vehicle cannot access your place of lodging, our staff will help and orient you to the nearest point with vehicular access.
Of course. You can stay anywhere in the Sacred Valley. However, you must keep in mind that the INKA TRAIL route is Cusco-Urubamba-Ollantaytambo. If your hotel is located in this route, we will coordinate a specific time for your pick-up (at no additional cost). If your hotel is located outside this route, you must contact WAYKI’s sales representatives to coordinate a time for your pick-up (at an additional cost).
If you do not wish to stay in Cusco, we strongly suggest you stay in Ollantaytambo. Those that wish to stay in Ollantaytambo will be able to sleep a little bit more as we will be picking you up approximately 1.5 hours after the pick-up time in Cusco. That being said, we will coordinate a briefing session ahead of our trip. In the worst of cases, we will schedule multiple briefing sessions according to our clients’ accomodations. If you have any questions or want more information on the matter, please consult with WAYKI’s sales representatives.
Most hotels, and even homes in Peru, are now equipped with standard US plug sockets.
Although you do not need to complete any specific kind of training for the Cusco treks, we suggest that the best way to prepare yourself physically is to exercise on the treadmill, selecting the steep slopes configuration, as well as going up and down stairs or using the stairmaster. Please keep in mind that you will need between 2 to 3 days in Cusco before the start date of your trek.
We always recommend using the lightest possible trekking shoes. Those that provide ankle support are very useful, especially for inexperienced hikers, as you will be going up and down a lot of stairs made by our ancestors, the Incas.
No. However, walking sticks are always useful for hikers, specially when completing this trek. This is because there are a lot of trails that vary in altitude and are not always straight. Thus when you are in these trails, using walking sticks can really help relieve the accumulated pressure in your knees as well as help you climb the mountain. In addition, our walking sticks are adjustable. As such, when you are not using them, you can shorten the walking sticks so that they do not bother you. For those who want to bring their own walking sticks, make sure that they have rubber tips or park rangers will not allow you to use them. In case you forgot to bring them from your home country, you may purchase rubber tips in Cusco.
All luggage that is not necessary for the trek must stay in Cusco. All hotels in Cusco are quite used to, and prepared for, storing luggage. In the event that you have nowhere to store your luggage, you may leave your bags in our offices until our advendure ends. We will make sure your bags are stored safely, do not worry!
